Double Top for Humpty Dumpty Brewery

It’s double top for the Humpty Dumpty Brewery, of Reedham, as their ‘Big Sharpie’, a 5.0% Premium Pale Ale, has been named the Champion Cask Ale of Norfolk 2022 by the Norfolk branches of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

This follows on from the same brewery winning the 2022 Champion Bottled Beer award with their ‘Little Sharpie, a 3.8% Session Pale Ale.

Big Sharpie was described by the judges ‘Crisp hoppiness dominates the aroma and taste. Countered by peaches, malt and a slowly growing bitterness a grainy lingering finish develops.’ Brewed every 100th brew the beer uses plenty of Magnum, Cascade and Citra hops to develop the full hop experience.

Norfolk beers are judged by the Norfolk CAMRA Tasting Panel over a twelve-month period. Panel chair Alan Edwards commented: ‘The panel taste as many Norfolk brews as possible, though are sometimes limited by the availability of the beers. The list of winners shows the depth and quality of Norfolk brewing as well as the skills of our local landlords in presenting the beers.’

Second place overall went to Sirius Dog Star, a 4.4% Red Ale described as ‘A rich tapestry of malt, roast and caramel with interwoven hop hints. Sweetness and bitterness provide a light but growing undercurrent.’ It is brewed by the Wolf Brewery, of Besthorpe. 

In third place was Vanilla Latte, a 4.6% Speciality Ale with coffee, vanilla and lactose notes, from Mr Winter’s Brewery, of Norwich.

Alan Edwards added: ‘The award winners have been judged the best but there are many more equally fine brews waiting to be discovered. The onus is on the public to seek out and experience the variety of styles, with their own unique flavours, and brewed in Norfolk.’

Eight of the 40-plus Norfolk breweries are represented in the awards. CAMRA hopes they will encourage landlords to stock these, and the many other fine brews available from local breweries plus giving customers the incentive to seek out and support their local pubs.

The Norfolk panel is always looking for new members. If you would like to join us, please e-mail tastingpanel@norwich.camra.org.uk. The greater the number of people contributing to tastings, the more breweries have the chance to win.

CHAMPION CASK BEER OF NORFOLK 2022 :

OVERALL
WINNER, Big Sharpie, Humpty Dumpty, Reedham
RUNNER UP, Sirius Dog Star, Wolf, Besthorpe
3RD, Vanilla Latte, Mr Winter’s, Norwich

SESSION BITTERS
WINNER, Norwich Bitter, Fat Cat , Norwich
RUNNER UP, Oak, Grain, Alburgh
3RD, Wherry, Woodfordes, Woodbastwick

PREMIUM BITTERS
WINNER, Nelsons, Woodfordes, Woodbastwick
RUNNER UP, Marmalade Cat, Fat Cat, Norwich

SESSION PALE, BLONDE & GOLDEN ALES
WINNER, Little Sharpie, Humpty Dumpty, Reedham
RUNNER UP, Evolution APA, Mr Winter’s, Norwich
3RD, Twin Parallel, Mr Winter’s, Norwich

PREMIUM PALE, BLONDE & GOLDEN ALES
WINNER, Big Sharpie, Humpty Dumpty, Reedham
RUNNER UP, Twisted Ladder, Mr Winter’s, Norwich
3RD, White Face, Moon Gazer, Hindringham

RED ALES, BROWN ALES, OLD ALES & STRONG MILDS
WINNER, Sirius Dog Star, Wolf, Besthorpe
RUNNER UP, Nog, Woodfordes, Woodbastwick

STRONG STOUTS & PORTERS
WINNER, Dark Horse Stout, Elmtree, Snetterton

SPECIALITY BEERS
WINNER, Vanilla Latte, Mr Winter’s, Norwich

Competition launched for the logo for Norwich Beer Festival’s 44th year

The annual competition has been launched by CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) to find the logo for the 44th Norwich Beer Festival, taking place from Monday 24th October until Saturday 29th October 2022.

The deadline for logo entries is 11pm Monday 4th April 2022 and Norwich & District CAMRA are looking for innovative designs depicting a dragon of some form.

Craig Harmer, Festival Organiser, said: “The festival logo is a critical element that binds many aspects of the festival together. We always get a wide variety of designs and styles submitted. We're looking forward to receiving them”.

As always, the essential element is that a dragon must be included within the design, although abstract is acceptable. Also, a maximum of five solid colours (four is preferable) can be used, including any black or white parts of the design.

Entrants are asked to specify "Adult" or "Under-18" and include their name, contact details and age (if under-18) within the email. Visit https://camra.org.uk/privacy-policy/ for our privacy policy.

Judging will by organised by the festival organisers and the winner will receive £100 along with a selection of merchandise featuring their logo at the festival. There will be two runner-up prizes of complementary festival tickets, and the best under-18 entrant will receive a voucher.

All entries must be in a standard image format (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, BMP, or PDF). Vector files are welcome as long as a standard image format is included. Hand drawn entries are acceptable, but must be scanned or photographed. Multiple entries are also acceptable.

All entries (and queries) must be emailed to logo@norwichbeerfestival.org.uk and be received before 11pm Monday 4th April 2022. All email entries will be acknowledged.

All entries will become the property of the Norwich & District branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and may be used for display and publicity purposes. The logo of the winner will be depicted on the festival glass, programme, and other merchandise.